Tubular washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine comprising an elongated rotating tube having several, separate treatment sections and means positioned behind one or more treatment sections for restricting the flow area of the tube so as to obtain a more uniform distribution of the washing goods in the preceding sections.

llnited States Patent 91 Stroberg et al.

[ July 16, 1974 TUBULAR WASHING MACHINE Inventors: John Emil Stroberg; Nils Birger Thunhlom, all of Ronneby; Lars-Goran Henriksson, Ronneby, both of Sweden Aktiebolaget CTC, Gothenburg, Sweden Filed: Aug. 22, 1972 Appl. No.: 282,799

Assignee:

Int. Cl. D06! 37/08 Field of Search 68/58, 139, 143, 210

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Walker 68/58 2,645,914 7/1953 Sessions 68/58 X 3,201,958 8/1965 Smith 68/58 3,293,891 12/1966 Sulzmann 68/58 3,336,768 8/1967 Kleefisch 68/58 3,352,131 11/1967 Smith 68/58 3,503,230 3/1970 Sulzmann 68/58 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 479,594 7/1929 Germany 613/58 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fred C. Philpitt [5 7 ABSTRACT A washing machine comprising an elongated rotating tube having several, separate treatment sections and means positioned behind one or more treatment sections for restricting the flow area of the tube so as to obtain a more uniform distribution of the washing goods in the preceding sections.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures minnow 6 w SHEHIIIFS PATENTEU JUL 1 51974 SHEET 2 (If 3 TUBULAR WASHING MACHINE The present invention relates to a washing machine of the type comprising an elongated rotating tube, which is divided into a plurality of successive sections and through which the washing goods is passed and treated, e.g. by means of washing, bleaching, rinsing in the various sections.

Washing machines comprising an elongated, rotating tube with a plurality of treatment sections are previously known. The tube of such machines are normally arranged slightly inclined relative the horizontal plane and the washing goods is fed into the higher located end of the tube and is then with the assistance of the inclination and rotation of the tube caused to pass through the various treatment sections of the tube to the other end of the tube where it is discharged. During the passage of the washing goods through the various sections a treatment liquid is added, e.g. washing liquid to the washing goods in the tube. This washing liquid is usually added to the washing goods by the tube throughout its length or portions thereof being immersed with the lowermost portion of its circumference into one or more liquid containers and the mantle surface of the tube being perforated so that during the rotation of the tube the washing liquid is allowed to pass from the liquid container into the tube to the washing goods and back again.

During the passage of the washing goods through the tube said goods must be exposedto a plurality of mutually different treatment operations. The operations are usually divided into a prewashing, whereafter one or more main washings follow, bleaching, one or more rinsings, and an anti-static treatment. The prewashing is normally performed at a different temperature from the main washing and with other additions of washing materials. In bleaching and anti-static treatment the addition of further chemicals is required and at the rinsing pure water must be added. Therefore, in order to attain a perfect result an accurate control of the operations and processes in the various treatment sections is required. This control comprises an accurate supervision of temperatures and chemical additions and it is therefore necessary to delimit the various sections from each other as effectively as possible, so that the temperature and the chemicals in the treatment liquid utilized in one section do not to any substantial extent influence the temperature and the composition of the treatment liquid utilized in a preceding or succeeding section. However, in practice it has proved difficult in tubular washing machines of the type mentioned above to attain a satisfactory control of the treatment processes in all the various sections, since the sections have influenced each other and the washing liquid has flowed in an uncontrollable manner from one section into another, and the quantity of washing goods is different in different sections. These difficulties have caused that a satisfactory washing result has not been achieved or else that longer treatment times and smaller quantities of washing goods have been necessary.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine of the type mentioned above, wherein the various treatment operations can be controlled and supervised in a substantially more efficient manner than has previously been possible so as to obtain a better washing result and a higher capacity of the machine.

The varying quantity of washing goods in the various sections as mentioned above occurs since the washing goods fed into the inlet end of the tube meets a certain resistance from the washing goods already present in the tube, whereby the flow rate of the washing goods is reduced and the quantity of washing goods is increased in the first sections. At the end of the tube this resistance to the washing goods is no more present and the flow will be more rapid there at the same time as the quantity of washing goods will be smaller. For the control of the treatment operations it is an evident advantage, if the quantity of washing goods at least in some sections is substantially constant. The whole washing tube with all the sections is maintained in rotation at a certain speed and is reversed at certain intervals. The rotary speed and the revising intervals must be selected so that they fit all the sections, which may require considerablecompromises, if the quantities of washing goods are very different in the tube. With a more even quantity of washing goods in the various sections of the tube the washing machine can be dimensioned and the washing process can be controlled to optimum, which causes a better washing result and a higher capacity of the machine.

A more even quantity of washing goods in the tube is obtained according to the invention by placing at a convenient position in the tube a member, e.g. a baffle provided with a central aperture, which limits the flow area of the tube, whereby the quantity of washing goods in the sections in front of the baffle increases and becomesmore even at the same time as the quantity of washing goods in the sections after the baffle becomes substantially smaller, which is an advantage during e.g. rinsing. In a washing machine according to the invention washing liquid is added to the goods by means of buckets, which are provided on the rotating tube at the external periphery thereof and which during the rotation of the tube pass through a washing liquid container below the tube and thereby carry washing liquid, which is then during the rotation of the tube introduced through apertures in the washing tube and poured over the washing goods in order to perform the washing operation required. The washing tube is further provided with perforations for the washing liquid so that it can flow back into the same washing liquid container.

Washing machines of the type described have the great advantage that there is no liquid level in the tube since the capacity of the buckets, the size of the draining holes and the rotary speed can be matched in such a manner that the liquid quantity provided by the buckets is drained through the draining holes at such a speed that no significant liquid level is ever formed in the tube. This fact brings the advantage that the clothes to be washed do not fall down into a liquid surface, as is usual in other types of washing machines, but against the wall of the tube or other clothes in the tube, which provides a better washing result. The height of fall of the clothes to be washed in the tube can also be controlled to a certain extent by the rotary speed of the tube. Higher rotary speeds give a larger height of fall up to a certain limit. By a suitable dimensioning of the size and number of the buckets it is also possible to attain that a suitable quantity'of treatment liquid is added with a certain force, when the clothes to be washed are in the highest position, whereby the clothes are more easily caused to be opened in connection with the fall and the impact within the tube, which also additionally improves the washing process.

By varying the inclination of the tube relative the horizontal plane according to the invention it is also possible to obtain a better control of the flow velocity and thereby the treatment time in the tube by simple means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereon FIG. 1 illustrates a side view, partly in section, of a tubular washing machine according to the invention, FIG. 2 at an enlarged scale a section through the washing machine, FIG. 3 a cross-section normally of the tube through a portion of a tube and a bucket and FIG. 4 a suitable array of perforations for a rib introducing the treatment liquid.

The washing machine as illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises an elongated tube with an inlet aperture 10a and an outlet aperture 10b for the washing goods to be treated. Below the tube there is a plurality of troughs or containers l1, l2, 13 for treatment liquid. The tube is provided with a plurality of buckets 14 along its external periphery, which are adapted to pass through the liquid containers below the tube during the rotation of the tube and thereby carry treatment liquid, which is then poured out of the bucket and projected into the tube, when the buckets have arrived at a higher position during the rotation of the tube. The tube is divided into' a plurality of treatment sections 15, 16, 17 and each section has its separate container 11, 12, 13 for treatment liquid. Each section comprises one or two rings of buckets, depending on the length-of the section. Of course more rings of buckets can be used than has been illustrated, if this is necessary for the operation. The washing tube is shown in FIG. 1 with certain parts removed in an area immediately in front of the last but one rings of buckets. In this area there is illustrated a baffle 18, which is provided with a central aperture 19. Conveniently the central aperture 19 has a diameter, which is 40-60 percent of the diameter of the baffle, depending on the washing goods. This baffle is adapted to restrict the flow area in the tube so that a more even quantity of washing goods is obtained in the sections located in front of the baffle, i.e. between the inlet aperture 10a and the baffle 18. Rearwardly of the baffle a more rapid flow of washing goods is thus obtained and a smaller quantitty of washing goods per length unit. The sections located rearwardly of the baffle are substantially intended for the rinsing of the washing goods. Into the right end 10 of the tube, as shown in FIG. 1, the ready washing goods are fed out onto a conveyor, not illustrated, or to any other transport device.

The various liquid containers ll, 12, 13 below the tube are, in a manner not illustrated, interconnected by means of piping and valve members so as to allow the supply of suitable quantities of various substances and liquids and on the other hand the transfer of various liquid quantities from or to the other sections if desired. (e.g., it might be convenient to utilize used rinsing water in a section for prewashing.) These valves can be moved easily depending on the quantity. and type of washing goods introduced into the washing machine.

The washing tube is rotatably supported within and surrounded by a housing 20, which is supported at its rearward end pivotally in a vertical direction in a frame 21 and in addition at its forward end connected with a lift device 22, which allows a varying inclination of the tube 10 for adaption to various washing conditions. The washing tube 10 proper is rotatably supported within said housing and is supported by means of roller bearings 23 in two positions. The tube is further provided with members for the rotation of the tube at a variable speed and the reversal of the rotary direction. These members, however, have not been illustrated in detail, since they form no part of the present invention.

Dot-dash lines 20a illustrate the machine with the inlet end of the washing tube lifted to its topmost position.

The machine illustrated has an overall length of about 12 meters and the tube has a diameter of about 1,2 meters. The left end, as shown in FIG. 1, the inlet end, can be lifted about 300 mm, which position is used for emptying the tube but the normal position of operation is mm higher than the outlet end. It is also possible to lower the inlet end so that it will be positioned lower than the outlet end. This lowering under the outlet end, however, can not attain more than about 80 mm. The rotary speed is conveniently maintained at 25-30 revolutions per minute. The machine has an approximate capacity of 1,500 kg dry washing goods per hour.

FIG. 2 shows a section 17 of the machine at an enlarged scale. In this section the'tube 10 comprises two parts, one tight part 24 and one perforated part 25, said perforated part serving as a drain for returning the treatment liquid to the container 13. The tube is provided with internal hollow ribs 26 which are adapted to increase the lift height of the washing goods within the tube. At certain positions the ribs are provided with perforations 27 of the type illustrated more closely in FIG. 4. The buckets 14 are arranged at the external side of the tube 10 in connection with these perforated areas on the ribs so as to allow the inlet of the treatment liquid lifted by the buckets. The buckets 14 are located so that they partially overlap the portion 25 provided with drain apertures of the tube in the section. However, said overlapping is not necessary but it is possible to dimension the section so that in one section a certain spacing is provided between the rearward edge of the buckets and the forward edge of the perforation of the tube.

Immediately after the perforated portion 25 in the section there follows an internal baffle edge 28, which extends substantially radially from the internal wall of the tube 10 and serves to prevent treatment liquid from flowing into the succeeding section. The baffle edge, however, should not be so high that the passage of washing goods is prevented. Externally of the rotating tube there is an external baffle edge 28a, which is bent forwardly towards the inlet aperture of the tube and prevents treatment liquid from flowing into the succeeding section via the external side of the tube.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section at an enlarged scale through a bucket 14 of the type utilized on the rotating washing tube 10 and the arrangement of the bucket in connection with an axial rib 26 arranged in the interior of the tube 10. The bucket 14 comprises a base plate 14a, which is provided at either end with an edge 14b bent upwardly so as to hold treatmentliquid, which has been collected from the container into which the bucket has been immersed during the rotation of the tube. The bucket is also provided with side edges, not

illustrated. The base plate of the bucket is connected with a wall 29 projecting normally from the base plate and extending in a direction towards the centre axis in the rib 26. Said wall 29 is adapted to guide the treatment liquid into the rib 26, when the bucket has arrived at a lifted position due to the rotation of the tube. As illustrated, the bucket is formed symmetrically relative the wall 29 so that it will operate independently of the rotary direction of the tube. The bucket 14 is mounted on a flange 30 bent outwardly on the periphery of the tube. The rib 26, which is located in the interior of the tube, is also secured to said flange 30. The centre wall 29 of the bucket is terminated at a certain distance from the crest 26a of the rib, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. The interspace between the centre wall and the rib provides a better distribution of the treatment liquid fed into the tube. At the outwardly bent flange 30 on the tube there is also secured an angle bar 31 at either side of the central wall 29 of the bucket. Said angle bars 31 have a leg extending inwardly in the direction of the centre wall 29 so that a baffle edge is formed for preventing return flow of liquid from the rib into the bucket. The baffle edge is arranged approximately along the periphery of the tube and consequently externally of the perforation of the rib 26, as seen from the centre of tube.

The array of perforations for the rib 26 as illustrated in H0. 4 presents a number of equally sized holes, which are arranged in rows, saidrows being mutually staggered in a longitudinal direction by a spacing corresponding to half the distance between two holes. The diameter of the holes is about 10 mm, the spacing between the rows is about 16 mm and the spacing between the holes in the same row is about 18 mm. The dimensions indicated and the arrangement illustrated is, of course, only intended as examples. A very large number of different arrays of holes or perforations can, of course, be used with substantially the same function.

Many variations and modifications of the washing machine illustrated are, of course, possible within the scope of the present invention. The sections can be made of different length, size and shape, whereby a certain treatment process is repeated a plurality of times in each section. It is, of course, also possible to provide means in order to restrict the flow area of the tube at a plurality of different locations in the tube so that consequently a plurality of series of sections with succeeding restricting means are obtained, if it is desirable to have a plurality of series of sections with substantially constant but mutually different quantity of washinggoods or level of washing goods. The restriction of the flow area of the tube can also be performed in other Ways than by utilization of a baffle with a central aperture, e.g. by means of a tapering shape of the washing tube. The number of buckets around the periphery of the tube and the arrangement of the inlet apertures for the treatmentliquid and draining apertures for the treatment liquid from the tube can also be formed in many different ways. It is possible that the buckets can be replaced by a fixed piping system arranged at the upper part of the rotary path of the tube, said piping system injecting treatment liquid into the rotating tube. The external baffle edge can also have many different shapes, e.g. consist of an edge abutting the tube for the removal of liquid or be replaced by an air flow.

What we claim is:

l. A washing machine characterized by a. an elongated rotatable washing tube which is divided into a plurality of axially adjacent communicating sections through which the goods to be washed are adapted to pass for washing and treatment with liquids,

b. an inlet in one end section for introducing goods to be washed and an outlet in the other end section for removal of the washed goods,

c. means for supplying treating liquid to the goods to be washed during rotation of the washing tube,

d. the adjacent ends of sections being provided with barrier means for preventing liquid in one section from flowing into the adjacent section,

e. apertures at selected locations in the tube wall of each section for the draining of liquid through the tube wall,

f. a liquid container located beneath each section of the washing tube for collecting the liquid that drains downwardly through said apertures,

g. a baffle located rearwardly of a plurality of washing sections and forwardly of at least one rinsing section, said baffle having a circular central aperture in the area surrounding the axis of the tube, the diameter of said aperture being 40 of the diameter of the baffle, said baffle and aperture serving to restrict the flow area of the tube to such an extent that a substantially uniform level of washing goods is maintained in the series of sections located forwardly of said restricting means,

h. a plurality of buckets positioned around the exterior of said tube so that upon rotation of said tube the buckets will pick up liquid from the liquid containers located beneath each section and thereafter discharge such liquid into the tube when the bucket has reached a higher elevation by virtue of further rotation of said tube,

i. said buckets being open in both peripheral directions and being provided with a central wall so that the buckets will pick up liquid regardless of the direction of rotation of the tube,

j. perforated ribs arranged on the interior of the tube which extend in the axial direction of the tube,

k. said buckets opening into said hollow perforated ribs, the central wall of the bucket terminating at a spaced distance from the surface of the perforated rib so as to improve the distribution of the liquid delivered into the tube by the bucket,

. said perforated ribs being provided with inhibiting edges on their internal sides which extend substantially in the peripheral direction of the tube so as to prevent return flow of liquid into the bucket.

2. A washing machine characterized by a. an elongated rotatable washing tube which is divided into a plurality of axially adjacent communicating sections through which the goods to be washed are adapted to pass for washing and treatment with liquids,

b. an inlet in one end section for introducing goods to be washed and an outlet in the other end section for removal of the washed goods,

c. means for supplying treating liquid to the goods to be washed during rotation of the washing tube,

(1. the adjacent ends of sections being provided with barrier means for preventing liquid in one section from flowing into the adjacent section,

e. apertures at selected locations in the tube wall of each section for the draining of liquid through the tube wall,

f. a liquid container located beneath each section of the washing tube for collecting the liquid that drains downwardly through said apertures, and

g. a baffle located rearwardly of a plurality of washing sections and forwardly of at least one rinsing section, said baffle having a central aperture in the area surrounding the axis of the tube, said baffle and aperture serving to restrict the flow area of the tube to such an extent that a substantially uniform level of washing goods is maintained in the series of sections located forwardly of said restricting means.

3. A washing machine according to claim 2 wherein the baffle is circular in shape and the diameter of the central aperture of the baffle is 40 60 percent of the diameter of the baffle.

4. A washing machine according to claim 3 which additionally contains a plurality of buckets positioned around the exterior of said tube so that upon rotation of said tube the buckets will pick up liquid from the liquid containers located beneath each section and thereafter discharge such liquid into the tube when the bucket has reached a higher elevation by virtue of further rotation of said tube, said buckets being open in both peripheral directions and being provided with a central wall so that the buckets will pick up liquid regardless of the direction of rotation of the tube, and perforated ribs arranged on the interior of the tube which extend in the axial direction of the tube, said buckets opening into said hollow perforated ribs, the central wall of the bucket terminating at a spaced distance from the surface of the perforated rib so as to improve the distribution of the liquid delivered into the tube by the bucket.

5. A washing machine characterized by a. an elongated rotatable washing tube which is divided into a plurality of axially adjacent communicating sections through which the goods to be washed are adapted to pass for washing and treatment with liquids,

b. an inlet in one end section for introducing goods to be washed and an outlet in the other end section for removal of the washed goods,

cv means for supplying treating liquid to the goods to be washed during rotation of the washing tube,

d. the adjacent ends of sections being provided with barrier means for preventing liquid in one section from flowing into the adjacent section,

e. apertures at selected locations in the tube wall of each section for the draining of liquid through the tube wall,

f. a liquid container located beneath each section of the washing tube for collecting the liquid that drains through said apertures and g. restricting means located after a series of successive treating sections for restricting the flow area of the tube to such an extent that a substantially uniform level of goods to be washed is maintained in the series of sections located forwardly of the restricting means.

6. A washing machine according to claim 5 wherein said restricting means comprises a baffle provided with a central aperture in the area surrounding the axis of the tube. 

1. A washing machine characterized by a. an elongated rotatable washing tube which is divided into a plurality of axially adjacent communicating sections through which the goods to be washed are adapted to pass for washing and treatment with liquids, b. an inlet in one end section for introducing goods to be washed and an outlet in the other end section for removal of the washed goods, c. means for supplying treating liquid to the goods to be washed during rotation of the washing tube, d. the adjacent ends of sections being provided with barrier means for preventing liquid in one section from flowing into the adjacent section, e. apertures at selected locations in the tube wall of each section for the draining of liquid through the tube wall, f. a liquid container located beneath each section of the washing tube for collecting the liquid that drains downwardly through said apertures, g. a baffle located rearwardly of a plurality of washing sections and forwardly of at least one rinsing section, said baffle having a circular central aperture in the area surrounding the axis of the tube, the diameter of said aperture being 40 - 60% of the diameter of the baffle, said baffle and aperture serving to restrict the flow area of the tube to such an extent that a substantially uniform level of washing goods is maintained in thE series of sections located forwardly of said restricting means, h. a plurality of buckets positioned around the exterior of said tube so that upon rotation of said tube the buckets will pick up liquid from the liquid containers located beneath each section and thereafter discharge such liquid into the tube when the bucket has reached a higher elevation by virtue of further rotation of said tube, i. said buckets being open in both peripheral directions and being provided with a central wall so that the buckets will pick up liquid regardless of the direction of rotation of the tube, j. perforated ribs arranged on the interior of the tube which extend in the axial direction of the tube, k. said buckets opening into said hollow perforated ribs, the central wall of the bucket terminating at a spaced distance from the surface of the perforated rib so as to improve the distribution of the liquid delivered into the tube by the bucket, l. said perforated ribs being provided with inhibiting edges on their internal sides which extend substantially in the peripheral direction of the tube so as to prevent return flow of liquid into the bucket.
 2. A washing machine characterized by a. an elongated rotatable washing tube which is divided into a plurality of axially adjacent communicating sections through which the goods to be washed are adapted to pass for washing and treatment with liquids, b. an inlet in one end section for introducing goods to be washed and an outlet in the other end section for removal of the washed goods, c. means for supplying treating liquid to the goods to be washed during rotation of the washing tube, d. the adjacent ends of sections being provided with barrier means for preventing liquid in one section from flowing into the adjacent section, e. apertures at selected locations in the tube wall of each section for the draining of liquid through the tube wall, f. a liquid container located beneath each section of the washing tube for collecting the liquid that drains downwardly through said apertures, and g. a baffle located rearwardly of a plurality of washing sections and forwardly of at least one rinsing section, said baffle having a central aperture in the area surrounding the axis of the tube, said baffle and aperture serving to restrict the flow area of the tube to such an extent that a substantially uniform level of washing goods is maintained in the series of sections located forwardly of said restricting means.
 3. A washing machine according to claim 2 wherein the baffle is circular in shape and the diameter of the central aperture of the baffle is 40 - 60 percent of the diameter of the baffle.
 4. A washing machine according to claim 3 which additionally contains a plurality of buckets positioned around the exterior of said tube so that upon rotation of said tube the buckets will pick up liquid from the liquid containers located beneath each section and thereafter discharge such liquid into the tube when the bucket has reached a higher elevation by virtue of further rotation of said tube, said buckets being open in both peripheral directions and being provided with a central wall so that the buckets will pick up liquid regardless of the direction of rotation of the tube, and perforated ribs arranged on the interior of the tube which extend in the axial direction of the tube, said buckets opening into said hollow perforated ribs, the central wall of the bucket terminating at a spaced distance from the surface of the perforated rib so as to improve the distribution of the liquid delivered into the tube by the bucket.
 5. A washing machine characterized by a. an elongated rotatable washing tube which is divided into a plurality of axially adjacent communicating sections through which the goods to be washed are adapted to pass for washing and treatment with liquids, b. an inlet in one end section for introducing goods to be washed and an outlet in the other end Section for removal of the washed goods, c. means for supplying treating liquid to the goods to be washed during rotation of the washing tube, d. the adjacent ends of sections being provided with barrier means for preventing liquid in one section from flowing into the adjacent section, e. apertures at selected locations in the tube wall of each section for the draining of liquid through the tube wall, f. a liquid container located beneath each section of the washing tube for collecting the liquid that drains through said apertures and g. restricting means located after a series of successive treating sections for restricting the flow area of the tube to such an extent that a substantially uniform level of goods to be washed is maintained in the series of sections located forwardly of the restricting means.
 6. A washing machine according to claim 5 wherein said restricting means comprises a baffle provided with a central aperture in the area surrounding the axis of the tube. 